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Appeals court affirms lower court judgment in Microsoft, Motorola patent suitThe 9th Circuit Appeals court affirmed the judgment of a district court in a patent lawsuit between Microsoft (MSFT) and Motorola, which is now owned by Google (GOOG). In its ruling, the appeals court wrote: "With the partiesí consent, the district court conducted a lengthy, thorough bench trial on the RAND rate and range. The court analyzed that evidence in its exhaustive findings of fact and conclusions of law, in a manner consistent with the Federal Circuitís recent approach to establishing damages in the RAND context. The courtís factual findings were properly admitted at the jury trial. The juryís verdict was supported by substantial evidence, and its damages award was proper." In a tweet after the ruling was released, Markman Advisors, which specializes in patent law, stated that Microsoft, Qualcomm (QCOM), InterDigital (IDCC) and others will be affected by this ruling, which it characterized as "tough for licensors of standard-essential patents."